Pompey Out Of Checkatrade Trophy

By Jim BonnerLast updated : 09 November 2016

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Pompey are out of the farcical Checkatrade Trophy following Yeovil's 2-0 win over Reading Reserves tonight.

Had the Glovers lost by two goals or more (or 1-0 or 2-1) then Paul Cook's men would have advanced to the knockout stages following their win over Bristol Rovers last night in front of a post-war record low crowd of 1,200 at Fratton Park.

It seems like most fans were united in wanting Pompey to exit this travesty of a competition. Shaun Harvey has a lot to answer for as his new format, one which completely panders to Premier League teams' desires, has fallen completely flat not only with fans but players and managers too.

The fact that League One and Two clubs were making early subtitutions to avoid a fine for fielding a weakened team whilst the likes of Stoke City were allowed to play the likes of Peter Crouch and Bojan Krkic in a competition designed to improve England youth just highlights what a joke it is.

It'll be interesting to see what hair-brained scheme Harvey comes up with next as he attempts to appease the Premier League overlords for the sake of his own reputation. This season's abomination has been an utter faiure and he needs to be held to account for his crimes.

The best thing that could happen now is this meaningles trophy, a piece of silverware that only small clubs would be proud of winning, should be scrapped entirely with the prize money from this competition allocated to the League Cup instead.